Department of Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, U.S.A.
The commercial floriculture crop producer is using improved plant materials, growing them in improved growing structures (or in the open field in warmer climates), with the application of advances in technology and new knowledge about various environmental factors such as temperature, light, water, nutrition, gases and growth regulators. Efficient programmes of soil sterilization, disease and insect prevention and control, and weed control are integrated in the flower and plant production schedules. The objective is to provide to the retail florist and to the consumer high quality cut flowers and potted plants with a suitable profit for the grower.
